Special homes
Cambridge Primary English Grade 6 · Unit 1: Places we live · Lesson 3 · Term 1 · Marshall Cavendish
Also known as: Present passive
Play this lesson
Lesson idea
Skyscrapers, houseboats, gers and cave homes are built for different reasons, and we use prepositions of place and time and the present passive voice.
Lesson vocabulary: skyscraper: a building of more than 40 floors · houseboat: a home that floats on water · ger: a round tent in Mongolia, also called a yurt · cave home: a home built in holes in rocks · cottage: a small house, often in the countryside · castle: a large old strong building
Key points
- The present passive is am/is/are + past participle.
- In the passive, the object moves to the beginning of the sentence.
- We leave out the doer if it is obvious, unimportant or unknown.
Lesson questions (14)
- How high is a skyscraper?
Answer: More than 40 floors - How tall is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai?
Answer: 828 metres - Why are skyscrapers built?
Answer: There is not a lot of land to build on - Where do people live on floating houseboats?
Answer: Ha Long Bay in Vietnam - Why do villagers in Ha Long Bay live on boats?
Answer: It is difficult to build on the steep islands - What is a ger?
Answer: A round tent with one big room - Why do Mongolian farmers move twice a year?
Answer: To find fresh grass for sheep and goats - Why do people build cave homes in Tunisia?
Answer: They stay warm in winter and cool in summer - Which home has no windows?
Answer: The ger - Choose the passive: People build skyscrapers.
Answer: Skyscrapers are built. - Complete: English ___ all over the world.
Answer: is spoken - Complete: We played cricket ___ the beach.
Answer: on - Complete: We are going hiking ___ the mountains.
Answer: in - The verb in the present passive is formed with am/is/are and ___.
Answer: the past participle
About this lesson
“Special homes” is from Cambridge Primary English Grade 6 (Unit 1: Places we live) and has 14 questions with answers. Sample questions: “How high is a skyscraper?” and “How tall is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai?”. Every question can be played in any Hessa Play game or activity.
How to use it in class
- Show the question on the board and let students think before the options appear.
- Split the class into two teams; every correct answer earns a point.
- Display it on the smart board, send it as homework by link, or play it solo or in two teams.
Questions about this lesson
How do we form the present passive?
am/is/are + the past participle: Houses are built.
What happens to the object?
When a sentence is changed to the passive, the object moves to the start of the sentence. Example: They build skyscrapers → Skyscrapers are built.
When do we leave out the agent?
When it is obvious, unimportant or unknown.
Do students need an account to play this lesson?
No. The teacher shares the lesson link; the student types a first name and plays on a phone or computer, and the score reaches the teacher.
Which games suit this lesson?
You can play it in The Hunter, Complete the sentence, Match Up, Matching pairs and the other games and activities on Hessa Play.